BLOG: Welcome to our Bromelkamp Blog!

As part of Bromelkamp Company, LLC's commitment to outstanding service and deep commitment to your ongoing success, we have created a series of Bromelkamp educational GEMS, which are compiled together in this blog/resource library to help foundations of all types and sizes understand how software technology can help further their organization's purpose. You can register to receive these GEMS periodically via email, and/or view them here.

BLOG: The Economic Theory of No Free Lunch...or Free CRM

The Economic Theory of No Free Lunch...or Free CRM

There is an economic theorem called “No Free Lunch.” It states, in layman terms, “whatever goods and services are provided, they must be paid for by someone.”

Free lunches have a history in the USA that goes back to the mid-19th century. In fact, it was a commonplace promotion that saloon keepers used to attract drinkers during the slow daytime hours. Free lunches were served to anyone that purchased a drink. Customers would typically pay more for the drinks than they would have spent on the food.

Logically we all understand that businesses do not remain profitable if they are giving products or services away without getting something in return. However, we still manage to get excited when we hear the word ‘free.' Now and then a grantmaker will tell us that they are looking at Salesforce for their CRM tool because it is free for non-profits.

BLOG: Incomplete Grant Applications Are No Laughing Matter

Incomplete Grant Applications Are No Laughing Matter

Online Application Software Increases Qualification Rates

Bill Gates enters heaven. St. Pete shows him the tiny cottage he will stay in. He decides to explore the area, and finds out the captain of the Titanic is living in an enormous mansion. Bill asks St. Pete about this, and St. Pete says...

Well, what is the punch line? What a disappointment when someone forgets part of the joke. There are only two basic parts to remember for any joke: the set-up and the punchline. Forgetting the punchline is kind of like an applicant neglecting to complete all of the required information for a grant request.

BLOG: Reasons Why You Should Automate Your Grant Process

Reasons Why You Should Automate Your Grant Process

It's time to automate your grant processing, unless of course you like data entry.

Over 35 years ago, I was observing a nonprofit where I was volunteering and was stunned at the amount of data entry and redundancy that was created by manual tracking and follow-ups of gifts. I decided that this was an area where I could further help the mission of that nonprofit, and designed a database that would decrease the duplication of efforts. Today I am still surprised at the number of grantmakers and foundations who hang onto some old habits of data entry and typing and entering information into multiple places. Does your staff spend hours each week entering data into your database (or worse, spreadsheets)? Leveraging technology is the best way to maximize your man (and woman) power, as well as reduce data entry errors. At Bromelkamp Company, our motto is "Never type the same thing twice," and here's how we make this dream a reality.

BLOG: Operate Like a Well-Run Kitchen

Why Community Foundations Should Operate Like a Well-Run Kitchen

Foundation software helps expedite processes.

If you think about it, community foundations are a lot like a busy restaurant kitchen. It takes considerable planning, well thought-out processes and coordination to deliver different entrees to you and each of your dinner companions at the same time.

Why is this so difficult? Each entrée probably uses different kitchen equipment, requires varying cook times and contains diverse ingredients, yet it all seems to come together seamlessly when you are sitting in the dining room.

This flawless delivery doesn't happen by chance. A well-run commercial kitchen take a lot of planning and coordination to simultaneously manage the different processes for each entrée. It all works because an effective kitchen has a centralized system and processes that everyone uses.